Whitecaps FC training camp preview

January 19, 201311:01 AM PST

Darcy Green & Zac Ratcliffe(video)

VANCOUVER, BC - Over the last couple of days, YVR has seen a flood of new, old, and hopeful Whitecaps FC players arriving in Metro Vancouver for the start of the 2013 preseason training camp. With only six weeks until kickoff, players will be working hard over the next month and a half as First Kick is set for March 2 against Canadian arch-rivals Toronto FC.

The players and coaches will begin on-field preseason camp at Burnaby Lake West from Monday, January 21, to Friday, January 25, followed by nine days at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, Arizona, with the team departing for the Grand Canyon State on Monday, January 28. While in Arizona, the ‘Caps will play a pair preseason matches against MLS sides New England Revolution and Houston Dynamo.

Head coach Martin Rennie has build out a calculated preseason plan, which will include a number of on field and gym sessions, as well as seven preseason matches.

“Everyone is excited to return to Vancouver and kick off the new season," said Rennie. "We have more than 20 returning players and during the short but busy off-season we have added some new faces and expect a very entraining and competitive training camp. We accomplished a lot of firsts in 2012, however we all recognize that was only the beginning."

Following the annual trip to Arizona, players will return to Vancouver on February 8 for a few days of training at Burnaby Lake West. The team will then head to Charleston, South Carolina, where they will play a series of matches against Charleston Battery (February 16), College of Charleston (February 17), Houston Dynamo (February 20), and Chicago Fire (February 23), before a trip to Cary, North Carolina, for a return match against Carolina RailHawks (February 24).

The team returns to Vancouver on February 25 for the final week of preseason training at their new home, the National Soccer Development Centre at the University of British Columbia.

With a busy six-week schedule ahead of them, Whitecaps FC players, coaches, and staff will be looking forward to seeing a packed BC Place on March 2, as the club kicks off their third season in MLS.

PLAYERS INFORMATION:

On January 19, the 2013 preseason roster includes 35 players, including 24 players under contract.